Splendour in the Grass quits Byron

Splendour in the Grass is leaving Byron Bay – but organisers say the shift is only temporary and they are still working towards staging the festival permanently at its Yelgun site.

In what will be a blow to Byron Bay businesses at a traditional slow time of the year, next winter’s festival will be held at the home of the Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland.

“Woodford Folk Festival and their beautiful site Woodfordia have been a great source of inspiration to us and we feel honoured to borrow their home” said organiser Jessica Ducrou.

“Securing the venue has meant we have been able to confirm dates and we are happy to announce that Splendour’s tenth anniversary event will run over three days, from Friday, July 30 to Sunday, August 1 2010”.

Ms Ducrou said the festival had a great opportunity to grow and give people better access to it, but at the same time keep it a unique and personal experience.

She said given the size of the Woodford venue almost all festival patrons could be accommodated in camping grounds on-site, giving more people the full festival experience.

The purpose-built venue also meant the festival could incorporate a broader range of arts and cultural experiences, which it had been wanting to do for many years.

Splendour In The Grass has been working toward establishing a permanent festival site at Yelgun with the plans still being processed by the NSW Department of Planning, prompting organisers to make the decision to move to Woodford next year.

“We will continue to work through the approval process for our permanent home in the Byron Shire” Ms Ducrou said.

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland said the council had worked hard to attract ‘this signature celebration of music and culture’ to Woodford, an area that already had the runs well and truly on the board when it came to hosting quality music festivals.

Director of Woodford Folk Festival, Bill Hauritz, said having one of Australia’s premier contemporary music events at Woodfordia would be a privilege.

“Splendour is one of the best managed events I have observed, they are responsible, caring and disciplined organisers,” he said.

“We can expect the best. We are grateful to the Queensland Government and Moreton Bay Regional Council for their enthusiasm and support, which has enabled Woodfordia to host Splendour in the Grass in 2010.”